Platinum-group element geochemistry of the layered intrusions in the Emeishan large igneous province, SW China: Implications for the principal controls on magmatic sulfide immiscibility

Abstract

It is widely accepted that the incorporation of external sulfur via crustal contamination is an important trigger for sulfide immiscibility that generates Ni-Cu-(PGE) sulfide mineralization, yet other controlling factors for sulfide immiscibility may also be present. The late Permian Panzhihua, Baima, Hongge, Xinjie and Taihe layered intrusions in the Emeishan Large Igneous Province (ELIP, SW China), are well-endowed with Fe-Ti oxide deposits, whereas their sulfide mineralization is mainly sub-economic. For example, the lower part of the Xinjie intrusion hosts a few thin PGE-rich ore layers, yet other ELIP layered intrusions do not contain any Ni-Cu sulfide mineralization and are PGE-depleted (0.01–1 ppb).

Compared with the PGE-undepleted Emeishan high-Ti basalts that are genetically related to the intrusions, the extent of PGE depletion and elevated Cu/Pd ratios (up to 3.2×10⁶) of the Panzhihua, Baima, Taihe and Hongge intrusions suggest PGE-depletion in their parental magmas due to early-stage sulfide removal. Sr-Nd isotopic compositions of the Panzhihua, Baima and Taihe intrusions suggest crustal contamination was insignificant and sulfide saturation produced mainly by crustal sulfur input was unlikely. MELTS modeling shows that extensive fractionation of chromite, olivine and clinopyroxene in deep-seated magma chambers may have induced early-stage sulfide saturation of the primary magmas. The relatively high sulfide contents in the Fe-Ti oxide layers at Panzhihua, Baima, Hongge and Taihe indicate a close relationship between the second-stage sulfide immiscibility and extensive Fe-Ti oxide crystallization.

Positive correlations between sulfur and total Fe₂O_3, V and TiO₂ suggest that Fe-Ti oxide (magnetite and ilmenite) crystallization may have triggered the second-stage sulfide saturation via sharply lowering the Fe concentration and oxygen fugacity of the magmas. Moderate degree of crustal contamination for the Xinjie Fe-Ti oxide-barren rocks may have induced sulfide saturation and accumulation at the lower part of the intrusion. Our calculations indicate that the Xinjie PGE-rich rocks have high R-factors (1000–10000), which are ascribed to PGE-upgrading of the sulfides via reaction with new replenishments of PGE-undepleted magmas. A few Panzhihua, Baima and Taihe samples that contain higher PGE concentrations suggest that the early-stage sulfide droplets at depths were entrained in later magma pulses delivered to shallower magma chambers. The very high R-factors determined by mass balance calculation, implies a good potential for discovering more PGE mineralization in the deep-seated intrusions of the magma plumbing system.